Noah Webster Quotes

“Facts which were new to me were daily presenting themselves to my mind.”

“There iz no alternativ. Every possible reezon that could ever be offered for altering the spelling of wurds, stil exists in full force; and if a gradual reform should not be made in our language, it wil proov that we are less under the influence of reezon than our ancestors. [This quote illustrates the reformed spelling advocated by Webster.]”

Reason Spelling Reform

Author:Noah Webster

“Power is always right, weakness always wrong. Power is always insolent and despotic.”

Power Weakness Always Wrong Insolent

Author:Noah Webster

“An immense effect may be produced by small powers wisely and steadily directed.”

May Effects Immense

Book:Letters

Source: Letters

“It is admitted that all men have an equal right to the enjoyment of their life, property and personal security; and it is the duty as it is the object, of government to protect every man in this enjoyment.”

Men Government Security Objects Duty Protect Equal Property Every Man Enjoyment Personal Security

Author:Noah Webster

“It is alleged by men of loose principles, or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political stations. But the Scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers should be men who rule in the fear of God, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness. But if we had no divine instruction on the subject, our own interest would demand of us a strict observance of the principle of these injunctions. . . .”

“When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God. The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty.”

Source: History of the United States: to which is prefixed a brief historical account of our [English] ancestors, from the dispersion at Babel, to their migration to America, and of the conquest of South America, by the Spaniards

“Ability is active power, or power to perform.”

Ability Active

Book:A Manual of Useful Studies: For the Instruction of Young Persons of Both Sexes, in Families and Schools

Source: A Manual of Useful Studies: For the Instruction of Young Persons of Both Sexes, in Families and Schools

“Compassion is a mixed passion, composed of love and sorrow.”

Passion Compassion Sorrow

Author:Noah Webster

“To suppose that man without language taught himself to speak, seems to me as absurd as it would be to suppose that without legs he could teach himself to walk. Language, therefore, must have been the immediate gift of God.”

Men Has Beens Seems Would Be Speak Language Walks Teach Taught Legs Absurd Gift From God

Author:Noah Webster

“There iz no alternativ. Every possible reezon that could ever be offered for altering the spelling of wurds, stil exists in full force; and if a gradual reform should not be made in our language, it wil proov that we are less under the influence of reezon than our ancestors.”

Ifs Should Made Language Force Influence Reform Ancestor Spelling

Book:A collection of essays and fugitiv writings 1790

Source: A collection of essays and fugitiv writings 1790

“Might his last glance behold the glorious ensign of the Republic still full high advanced, its arms and trophies streaming in all their original lustre.”

Stills Might Lasts Arms Originals Glorious Republic Flags Glances Trophies Streaming

Author:Noah Webster

“Let the people have property and they will have power - a power that will forever be exerted to prevent the restriction of the press, the abolition of trial by jury, or the abridgment of any other privilege.”

People Wisdom Politics Economy Forever Presses Property Privilege Trials Liberalism Restriction Jury Abolition Trial By Jury

Author:Noah Webster

“The liberty of the press, trial by jury, the Habeas Corpus Writ, even Magna Carta itself, although justly deemed the paladia of freedom, are all inferior considerations, when compared with the general distribution of real property among every class of people.”

People Real Wisdom Politics Liberty Class Economy Presses Property Trials Liberalism Consideration Inferiors Distribution Jury Corpus Trial By Jury Real Property Habeas Corpus Magna Carta

Author:Noah Webster

“The man who has half a million of dollars in property... has a much higher interest in the government, than the man who has little or no property.”

Men Littles Wisdom Government Politics Interest Half Millions Economy He Man Higher Dollars Property Liberalism

Book:A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary, and Moral Subjects

Source: A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary, and Moral Subjects

“Relief of distress or compassion shown to victims of misfortune. A blessing that is an act of Divine compassion.”

Compassion Divine Blessing Victim Relief Misfortunes Distress

Author:Noah Webster

“A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power, and jealousy will instantly inspire the inclination, to resist the execution of a law which appears to them unjust and oppressive.”

“Knowledge, learning, talents are not necessarily connected with sound moral and political principles.... And eminent abilities, accompanied with depravity of heart, render the possessor tenfold more dangerous in a community.”

Heart Political Sound Community Ability Moral Principles Talent Dangerous Connected Depravity Knowledge Learning

Author:Noah Webster

“Whenever a man is known to seek promotion by intrigue, by temporizing, or by resorting to the haunts of vulgarity and vice for support, it may be inferred, with moral certainty, that he is not a man of real respectability, nor is he entitled to public confidence.”

Men May Real Known Moral Support Vices Certainty Entitled Intrigue Promotion Vulgarity Respectability

Book:Letters to a Young Gentleman Commencing His Education: To which is Subjoined a Brief History of the United States

Source: Letters to a Young Gentleman Commencing His Education: To which is Subjoined a Brief History of the United States

“In some countries the common people are not permitted to read the Bible at all. In ours, it is as common as a newspaper and in schools is read with nearly the same degree of respect.”

People Country School Common Degrees Newspapers

Book:A collection of Essays and fugitive writings on moral, historical, polictical and literary subjects

Source: A collection of Essays and fugitive writings on moral, historical, polictical and literary subjects

“Any system of education...which limits instruction to the arts and sciences and rejects the aids of religion in forming the characters of citizens, is essentially defective.”

Art Character Citizens Limits Aids Rejects Instruction Art And Science Defective

Author:Noah Webster

“As a general rule, it may be affirmed that the man who never intrigues for office may be most safely entrusted with office...Such a man cannot desire promotion unless he received it from the respectable part of the community, for he considers no other promotion to be honorable.”

Men May Desire Community He Man Office Honorable Intrigue Promotion Respectable

Author:Noah Webster

“Let us reject the spirit of making proselytes to particular creeds by any other means than persuasion.”

Mean Spirit Particular Rejects Creeds Persuasion

Author:Noah Webster

“Treason is the highest crime of a civil nature of which a man can be guilty.”

Men Crime Highest Guilty Treason

Book:A Dictionary of the English Language: Intended to Exhibi ... : in Two Volumes

Source: A Dictionary of the English Language: Intended to Exhibi ... : in Two Volumes

“Where will you find any code of laws among civilized men in which the commands and prohibitions are not founded on Christian principles? I need not specify the prohibition of murder, robbery, theft, trespass.”

Men Needs Christian Law Principles Murder Command Code Civilized Theft Prohibition Robbery

Book:A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary, and Moral Subjects

Source: A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary, and Moral Subjects

“The Moral Law is summarily contained in the Decalogue or Ten Commandments; written by the finger of God on two tablets of stone, and delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai.”

Two Law Moral Written Ten Stones Fingers Commandments Moses Ten Commandments Tablets Moral Law Sinai

Book:A Dictionary of the English Language: Intended to Exhibi ... : in Two Volumes

Source: A Dictionary of the English Language: Intended to Exhibi ... : in Two Volumes

“Discipline our youth in early life in sound maxims of moral, political, and religious duties.”

Political Sound Religious Moral Youth Duty Discipline Maxims Early Life

Book:Letters

Source: Letters

“All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.”

Source: History of the United States: to which is prefixed a brief historical account of our [English] ancestors, from the dispersion at Babel, to their migration to America, and of the conquest of South America, by the Spaniards

“The Bible must be considered as the great source of all the truth by which men are to be guided in government as well as in all social transactions.”

Men Wells Government Truth Social Source Transactions

Book:Value of the Bible and Excellence of the Christian Religion: For the Use of Families and Schools

Source: Value of the Bible and Excellence of the Christian Religion: For the Use of Families and Schools

“When a citizen gives his suffrage to a man of known immorality he abuses his trust; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country.”

Men Giving Country Interest Known Sacrifice Citizens Abuse Neighbor Voting Betray Immoral Immorality Suffrage Founding America American Founding Fathers Not Voting Voting Founding Fathers

Book:A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary, and Moral Subjects

Source: A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary, and Moral Subjects

“No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.”

Source: A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary, and Moral Subjects

“The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scripture ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws.”

Form Law Moral Principles Ought Bases Constitution Scripture Our Founding Fathers Founding Fathers Christian Moral Principles Moral Law Christian Heritage Religion And Government

Book:History of the United States: to which is prefixed a brief historical account of our [English] ancestors, from the dispersion at Babel, to their migration to America, and of the conquest of South America, by the Spaniards

Source: History of the United States: to which is prefixed a brief historical account of our [English] ancestors, from the dispersion at Babel, to their migration to America, and of the conquest of South America, by the Spaniards

“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States.”

People States Whole Body Government America Law Force United Liberty Power United States Arms Bears Band Gun Europe Standing Constitution Army Raised Supreme Kingdoms Superiors Usa Amendments Troops Gun Control Unjust Law Enforcement Founding Governing Freedom And Liberty Second Amendment Freedom Liberty Our Founding Fathers Limited Government Firearms Us Founding Fathers Right To Bear Arms Forefathers Militia Bearing Arms Gun Rights American Government Pretence Limiting Government Constitution Of The United States Rights And Freedoms Founding Fathers Of America Founding America Pro Gun Founding Fathers Gun 2 Amendment Us Constitution Founding Fathers Second Amendment Framers Disarming Us Army Limiting Freedom Anti Gun Amendment 1 Government And Society Supreme Power Gun Law Strong Arms Unjust Laws Amending The Constitution Amendment 19 Power Government Pro Gun Control Guns In America American Law Handgun Ban Laws And Government

Book:An Examination Into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution Proposed by the Late Convention Held at Philadelphia: With Answers to the Principal Objections that Have Been Raised Against the System

Source: An Examination Into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution Proposed by the Late Convention Held at Philadelphia: With Answers to the Principal Objections that Have Been Raised Against the System

“But the reasonableness of this command to obey parents, is clear, and easily understood by children, even when quite young.”

Children Young Parent Clear Command Reasonableness

Author:Noah Webster

“Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of her honor.”

Honor Female Excellence Charm Modesty Sweetest Gems

Book:A Dictionary of the English Language: Intended to Exhibi ... : in Two Volumes

Source: A Dictionary of the English Language: Intended to Exhibi ... : in Two Volumes

“A pure democracy is generally a very bad government, It is often the most tyrannical government on earth; for a multitude is often rash, and will not hear reason.”

Reason Government Earth Democracy Pure Multitudes Bad Government

Author:Noah Webster

“The heart should be cultivated with more assiduity than the head.”

Life Inspirational Should Heart

Book:A collection of essays and fugitiv writings 1790

Source: A collection of essays and fugitiv writings 1790

“The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws . . . The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and his Apostles . . . This is genuine Christianity and to this we owe our free constitutions of government.”

Government Form Law Christ Liberty Moral Christianity Principles Ought Bases Constitution Scripture Genuine 4th Of July Apostles Civil Liberties Moral Principles Christian Heritage

Author:Noah Webster

“The virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities, and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more assiduity than the head.”

Men Life Should Heart Reason Wisdom Ability Virtue Consequence

Book:A collection of essays and fugitiv writings 1790

Source: A collection of essays and fugitiv writings 1790

“Education is useless without the Bible. The Bible was America's basic text book in all fields. God's Word, contained in the Bible, has furnished all necessary rules to direct our conduct.”

Book God America Religious Education Fields Bible Direct Scripture Useless Textbooks Us History Religious Education Famous Book Lexicographer

Author:Noah Webster

“It is alleged by men of loose principles , or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political station. When a citizen gives his vote to a man of immorality , he abuses his civic responsibilty. He sacrifices not only his own interest but that of his neighbor, and he betrays the interest of his country.”

Men Giving Important Country Political Interest Religious Views Principles Sacrifice Subjects Citizens Morality Vote Abuse Neighbor Stations Betray Civics Qualifications Immorality Defective

Author:Noah Webster

“...if the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded.”

Source: Instructive and Entertaining Lessons for Youth: With Rules for Reading with Propriety, Illustrated by Examples: Designed for Use in Schools and Families

“It is an object of vast magnitude that systems of education should be adopted and pursued which may not only diffuse a knowledge of the sciences but may implant in the minds of the American youth the principles of virtue and of liberty and inspire them with just and liberal ideas of government and with an inviolable attachment to their own country.”

Should Mind May Ideas Country Government Education Liberty Principles Virtue Objects Youth Inspire Attachment Adopted Pursued Magnitude Implants American Youth

Author:Noah Webster

“But while property is considered as the basis of the freedom of the American yeomanry, there are other auxiliary supports; among which is the information of the people. In no country, is education so general - in no country, have the body of the people such a knowledge of the rights of men and the principles of government. This knowledge, joined with a keen sense of liberty and a watchful jealousy, will guard our constitutions and awaken the people to an instantaneous resistance of encroachments.”

People Men Country Body Government Education Liberty Principles Support Rights Information Bases Constitution Property Resistance Instantaneous Encroachment

Author:Noah Webster

“The minds of youth are perpetually led to the history of Greece and Rime or to Great Britain; Boys are constantly repeating the declamations of Demosthenes and Cicero, or debates upon some political question in the British Parliament.”

Mind Political Education Boys Youth British Debate Britain Parliament Greece Great Britain Declamation British Parliament

Author:Noah Webster

“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe.”

Book:An Examination Into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution Proposed by the Late Convention Held at Philadelphia: With Answers to the Principal Objections that Have Been Raised Against the System

Source: An Examination Into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution Proposed by the Late Convention Held at Philadelphia: With Answers to the Principal Objections that Have Been Raised Against the System

“The causes which destroyed the ancient republics were numerous; but in Rome, one principal cause was the vast inequality of fortunes.”

Causes Economics Fortune Ancient Destroyed Inequality Republic Rome Principal

Book:A collection of Essays and fugitive writings on moral, historical, polictical and literary subjects

Source: A collection of Essays and fugitive writings on moral, historical, polictical and literary subjects

“In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate-look to his character.”

Men Looks Character Politics Principles Particular Office Regard Guides Candidates Voting Founding Sects Denominations Not Voting Voting Founding Fathers

Book:A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary, and Moral Subjects

Source: A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary, and Moral Subjects

“[T]he Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis, or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government. . . . and I am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist and be durable in which the principles of that religion have not a controlling influence.”

Government Christian Form Principles Society Influence Source Morality Republican Bases Genuine Purity Founding Fathers Christian Founding Fathers Religion

Author:Noah Webster

“If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted . . . . If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.”

Source: Instructive and Entertaining Lessons for Youth: With Rules for Reading with Propriety, Illustrated by Examples: Designed for Use in Schools and Families

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